Africa’s alternative assets are by nature a risky asset class, but investors who take a long-term view and align themselves with the right partner will benefit from the higher yields on offer compared to other alternative markets. However, investors with strong appetite to build alternative portfolios in Africa face two key challenges –

lack of experience which prevents Investment Committees from being able safely to allow their investment teams to make commitments, or

absence of available investment vehicles, but rather a relatively limited range of funds and individual projects which don’t offer the diversification of risk which is required

Alternative Immersion aims to bridge the gap between practitioner access to business and investment capability and innovations. It is a practitioner–led, peer-to-peer driven ecosystem designed to stimulate new thinking and innovation about the pertinent issues in Africa's private markets.

Held in key financial hubs as breakfasts or evening events, to enable executives to fit them around a busy working day. Each Immersion last for over two hours. It is limited to around 20 people and open to members of Africonomie Alternative Network (AAN) by invitation only.

For corporate partners, the Immersion provides an inspiring professional learning and client education platform. It places emphasis on knowledge-sharing; whilst leveraging unique content (video and podcast) captured during each Immersion to position their brands, thought leaders and value proposition.

From the African bush to the streets of London, from the souks of Tangier and the concrete jungle of Hong Kong to the bling of Dubai and back to mother Africa; this is a riveting true story of what happens when an entrepreneur tries, tries and tries and fails more times than he succeeds. A narrative full of highs and lows, culminating in the creation of a pan-African consumer brand that eventually is sold to a multibillion-dollar company.

Infrastructure debt solutions can offer pension funds and insurance companies long-dated, stable, cashflow-driven returns. However, as long–term investors in Asia, Europe and the U.S continue to increase their exposure to infrastructure debt; African asset owners are struggling to effectively engage with this asset class. This immersion will leverage vetted infrastructure.

As Africa’s wealthy families and high net worth individual become increasingly international, a growing number of wealth managers and family offices are striving to broaden their global footprint, in order to offer the investment diversification and jurisdictional flexibility their clients require. This Immersion examines the latest trends in Africa private wealth, challenges and implications of managing their assets across multiple tax jurisdictions.

Although less conventional than typical Private Equity funds, Permanent Capital Vehicles (PCV) are becoming increasingly influential in the domain of private equity. With development finance institutions and institutional investors increasingly looking at investment in longer term capital vehicles and alternative structures, managers need to ensure they get their approach to valuation right.

African art has mainstreamed as an investable asset class. Thanks to the rising wealth of Africa's middle class. As well as the appreciation of African art, not just for its aesthetics, however, as an alternative asset class. This trend has come to drive conversations that are helping to build momentum about African art, its value and impact on its ecosystem. The Africa Art & Finance Immersions are by invitation only and held in key financial hubs all through the year.